Collapsible tube closure



Feb. s, 1934. E, A ppg 1,945,872

COLLAPS IBLE TUBE CLOSURE Filed Nov. 6, 1931 Inventor hm/14h41 Jaae Attorney T tube, thereby causing Patented Feb. 6, 1934 www 1,945,872 ooLLAPsmLE TUBE oLosURE Edward A. Tappe, San Bernardino, Calif. Applicationnovember 6,1931. `serial No. 573,330

1 Claim.

This invention relates to and has for an object the provision of a closure for collapsible tubes such as are employed as containers for shaving cream, tooth paste, ointments, etc., and a particular object is to provide a closure in the neck of a tube which will be self -contained within the tube, opened when pressure is applied to the tube for dispensing the contents of the tube, and selfclosing when the pressure on the tube is relieved.

Having in mind a closure of the broad general characteristics hereinabove mentioned, it will be obvious that such a device is capable of many modifications and variations.

I have shown in the accompanying drawing, however, several different forms of device for carrying out the objects of this invention, from a consideration of which other forms will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

In said drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a collapsible closure applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing an orifice in the neck of the tube by means of which the material from the tubemay be dispensed in a ribbon-like orm.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross section of the same.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are transverse fragmentary sections of the outlet end of a collapsible tube such as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, illustrating different forms of closures.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary end View of a form of closure shown in Fig. 6, together with a portion of the tube.

In the consideration of this invention it will be understood that collapsible tubular containers A, such as is shown in Fig. 1, are formed of thin flexible metal and are permanently closed at an end l, while the opposite end 2 is provided with a neck of reduced size onto which internally threaded caps (not shown) are usually screwed for closing and sealing the container. Such caps are frequently lost and must be detached and attached each time material is dispensed from the a loss of the material when the cap is lost, and if too long exposed to the atmosphere, a hardening of the material in the outlet orifice which renders further dispensing of the material difficult if not impossible at times.

The purpose of this invention is, therefore, to overcome the aforementioned difficulties by the provision of a self-contained and permanently attached closure B to the neck 3 of the tube A. Such a result can be attained satisfactorily by the employment of any one of several diiierent methods illustrated and others which are not shown or described herein. For instance, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, I may provide the closure B of button-like circular form with its periphery 4 slidably fitted into the end of the neck 3, and normally a bored or cored recess 5 at adapted to rest on a shoulder 6 formed by providing an annular enlargement 7 within and intermediate the extremities of said neck. The outer portion of the neck is provided with a 7hich is normally closed by rectangular orifice 8 the member B. The

neck is provided inwardly of the annular portion 7 with a cored recess 9 in which a coiled spring C is supported upon a shoulder 10. The innermost turn of the spring C is bent to provide a radial 11 and said radial portion is bent to proportion vide an axial portion 12 which is angles from the portion loop 13 adapted to hook into or formed on the inner side of closure B.

bent at right 11 andis provided with a over a lug 14 Thus the spring C is compressed when the closure B is forced outwardly by the application of pressure to the tube A, and the tension of said spring serves to hold the closure firmly seated on the shoulder 6 for closing the orifice 8.

Fig. 4 is slightly The form of closure shown in different from that shown in Fig.

3 in that the closure B is provided with a beveled periphery 15 adapted to seat in a correspondingly beveled opening 16 formed in the outer 3 after the manner of a poppet end of neck valve and its seat. In this type of closure the annular portion '7 is omitted from the neck and a shoulder 17 is provided immediately below the closure B. The spring C seats against the shoulder 17 k9() and is of the same type as the spring of Fig. 3.

The form of device shown in Fig.

5 differs from the other form described only in that the closure is of ball-like form and the outer end of the neck is curved, as shown, while the opening 18 therein conforms to the surface of the ball-like closure B.

The form of closure shown in Fig. 6 is similar to the form illustrated in Fig. 4, but the spring C is of different type. In this spring of rectangular or form of device a circular cross section may be employed with a plurality of convolutions resting against the curved end portion 2 within the body of the tube rather than as in the other types of closures.

inthe neck, The spring is It will be observedv that with of the form of closure shown inV the exception Figs 2 and 3, 110

all of the closures are arranged to exude or dispense material from the tubes thru the central end opening, as at 16, in the neck around the periphery of the closure B. Thus When the body of the tube A is squeezed by hand pressure thereon the spring C in each form of device is compressed and the closure B is forced outwardly, thus providing space around the closure as in forms shovvn in Figs 14, 5 and v6, `or opening the orice vas -inthe form of device/shown Vin Fig. 3, whereby the material may be dispensed from the tube.

When, however, the pressure on the tube isrelieved the tension of the spring C in each case serves to retract and firmly seat vthe closure yB in the tube, thus preventing leakage or-hardening of the material, which is occasioned by ex- Y posure to the atmosphere, and v-the closure in each case forms a sanitary seal for the tubes.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of my invention that I have provided a simple, economical and eicient self-closing seal or cap for a tube of the character described, the structure and arrangement of which is lsubject to modification Within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

A device of the class described, comprising a dispensing tube Aincluding a neck having a delivery opening therethru and a valve seat encircling said opening, a shoulder on said neck Within said delivery opening, a Valve associated .with said seat, and a helical spring disposed Within said deliveryopening, one end of said spring engaging said shoulder and the other end passing axially upward thru the helix formed by said helical spring and being connected to said valve to press the valve onto said seat.

EDWARD A. TAPPE. 

